The film stands out because it chooses to look at the socio-political post-war Germany. It looks at the thin slice of the vanquished: the fate of beautiful orphaned girls in a society that has been reduced to poverty.
The story-line is commendable, the plot average. If anything the charming Pier Angeli makes the film worth your time. The director switches the dialogue from English to German frequently at important moments, depriving much of the entertainment of the viewer who might not know German very well. This is a film that deserved subtitling where necessary. Gene Kelly is a poor actor, capable of giving good performances in musicals where dance supersedes drama. This film underscores this fact. Ironically, the songs and dances in the film are good but Kelly has nothing to do with them.
The story-line is commendable, the plot average. If anything the charming Pier Angeli makes the film worth your time. The director switches the dialogue from English to German frequently at important moments, depriving much of the entertainment of the viewer who might not know German very well. This is a film that deserved subtitling where necessary. Gene Kelly is a poor actor, capable of giving good performances in musicals where dance supersedes drama. This film underscores this fact. Ironically, the songs and dances in the film are good but Kelly has nothing to do with them.